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Bull Shark

The bull shark is one of the most adaptable and formidable sharks in the world, known for its ability to thrive in both saltwater and freshwater.

 

Bull sharks have a broad, rounded snout and a robust, stout body. They are typically gray on top and lighter underneath, providing natural camouflage in the water. They can grow up to 4 meters (13 feet) long and weigh nearly 317 kilograms (700 pounds). While they are most commonly found in coastal estuarine environments near shorelines, they are also one of the few shark species that can readily move between saltwater and freshwater. And they don’t just venture into saltwater for short periods of time – bull sharks can travel up rivers hundreds of miles from the ocean! 

These sharks are opportunistic feeders that consume a wide variety of prey, including fish, seabirds, small sharks, dolphins, and sea turtles. Although bull sharks have relatively small eyes, they can find their potential prey with the help of a keen sense of hearing and strong sense of smell. While adult sharks have no natural predators, juveniles may fall prey to larger sharks like tiger sharks, sandbar sharks, or other bull sharks. Like many sharks, bull sharks play an important role in keeping the ecosystems where they live in balance. 

 

 

Bull sharks face multiple human-caused threats across their range, which has led them to be considered vulnerable to extinction. 

Fishing 

Bull sharks are caught both intentionally and as bycatch with a variety of gears, including gillnets, longlines, and trawls. When targeted, it is for their meat as well as their fins, making bull sharks one of the many sharks targeted by the cruel shark fin trade.  

Habitat Destruction 

The nearshore and estuarine habitat that bull sharks depend on makes them vulnerable to habitat loss. These critical environments are being degraded by human activities such as dam construction, coastal development, and pollution. Additionally, climate change is raising ocean temperatures, further impacting the ecosystems these sharks depend on for survival. 

 

 

Saving sharks requires global protections and dedicated enforcement of them. In recent years, Oceana has helped to ban the deadly shark fin trade in the United States and Canada. We also campaign to safeguard ocean habitat and protect our climate by stopping dirty offshore drilling. 

When our oceans are well protected, ecosystems and wildlife thrive. You can learn more about our campaign to protect ocean habitat here.  

 

 

 

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